How to Limit Who Can Contact You on Instagram
Over time, Instagram has grown from a photo-sharing platform to a one-stop social network — complete with Snapchat-style Stories, Tik Tok-style Stories, and of course direct messages.
Having a DM inside Instagram provides a convenient way to chat with friends and family, but it also means anyone can reach you. If you don’t want that to happen, there are ways to control it.
That also extends to comments and likes on your feed — there are more settings than you might realize when it comes to managing who is allowed to contact you on Instagram and how they can do so. do that.
Choose: Public or Private
If your Instagram account is public, anyone on the platform can see your posts and stories (unless those stories are just for buddies), and anyone can message message directly to you. Anyone can like and comment on the photos and videos in your feed, whether they’re currently following you or not.
Switch to a private account and your visibility on Instagram is much more limited. New followers must be specifically approved by you — and only your followers can see the photos, videos, and stories you’re posting. Only followers can like and comment on the posts you post.
In terms of direct messaging, nothing has really changed: Personal profiles, with their account names and profile pictures, can still be found in search. As long as other people know your Instagram account name, they can send messages to that account, whether your account is public or private (and whether you’re following them or not).
To switch between public or private accounts in the Instagram app, tap your account icon (bottom right), then tap the menu button (top right). Choose Setting and Privacyand you will see there is a Personal account toggle up button at the top of the menu — use it to change your account status.
Protect your DM
Open your messages in the Instagram mobile app — the paper airplane icon in the top right corner — and you’ll see messages from people you’re following or people you’ve added to your list my bestfriend. Messages from other people on Instagram appear under Request navigation.